Book Reviews: Round-up of Young Adult crime fiction

Young Adult crime fiction is a particular delight of mine.  Whether it's a psychological thriller, a mystery, a police procedural or an all out fast- paced race against time.  Here are just a few of the offerings in the YA market at the moment.


Twenty Questions For Gloria by Martyn Bedford (release date 21st Jan 2016)

Twenty Questions For Gloria is part police procedural, part mystery and part suspense.... but wholly a great read.  Two fifteen-year-olds take off together, but only one returns. 

When the mysterious, charismatic Uman Padeem enrols at Gloria's school, a series of life changing events are set in motion.  Twenty Questions fro Gloria is told through Gloria's pint of view through a series of police interviews following her return home, without Uman.  With emotions running high, Gloria is forced to make sense of her experience and come to terms with Uman's actions.  Delightfully enigmatic, with plenty of hooks to keep you engrossed from the start.

Available on kindle for £7.59 or PB £7.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Twenty-Questions-Gloria-Martyn-Bedford-ebook/dp/B017WCQ3QI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457615314&sr=1-1&keywords=twenty+questions+for+Gloria

Sanctuary Bay by Laura J Burns & Melinda Metz (release date 19th Jan 2016)
As a young child, Sarah Merson witnessed the murder of her parents and then escaped, only to find herself part of the foster system. Passed from pillar to post and very unhappy, her unusual eidetic memory made her seem odd. Then, out of the blue she is awarded a place at the wonderful Sanctuary Bay Academy, where the total immersion program requires the student to remain on the island till graduation. Sarah is initially enchanted with her new life but, when her friend Karina disappears and strange things happen, she begins to doubt her new friends and her school. Thought-provoking and challenging.  A great read!
Available on Amazon Kindle £7.59 or HB £12.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sanctuary-Bay-Novel-Laura-Burns-ebook/dp/B010M5X44Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458561301&sr=1-1&keywords=sanctuary+bay

Girl Last Seen by Heather Anastasiu & Anne Greenwood Brown (release date 1st March 2016)

Lauren DeSanto and Kadence Mulligan become Youtube

stars when their music video goes viral.  Then, Lauren contracts a virus that stops her singing and everything changes.  Kadence decides to go it on her own, leaving Lauren working in a coffee bar.  Throw in an angry youth thwarted by the girls, a jealous boyfriend and Kadence's disappearance and you have a thrilling psychological thriller with a series of well plotted twists.

Available on Amazon Kindle £6.67, PB £7.02 & HB £12.12
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Last-Seen-Greenwood-Brown-ebook/dp/B01AVTU6PI?ie=UTF8&keywords=girl%20last%20seen&qid=1458818106&ref_=sr_1_1&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich (release date August 2015)
A dark supernatural mystery, The Dead House is written either so many days before 'the incident' or so many days after, and is narrated through a series of diaries, police interviews, psychiatric consult transcripts and recordings.  It is tense and emotional.  Kaitlyn and Carly Johnson share a soul; Kaitlyn at night and Carly during the day.  When Carly goes missing it sends Kaitlyn into a downward spiral as she tries to find her missing alter ego.  Skilfully written with fantastic characters and a really good mysterious storyline.
Available on Amazon Kindle £6.99 or PB £5.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Dead-House-Dawn-Kurtagich-ebook/dp/B0106473YK?ie=UTF8&keywords=the%20dead%20house&qid=1459603186&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=1-1

Dig Too Deep by Ally Allgeyer (release date 5th April 2016)

Move over Erin Brokovitch, Liberty Briscoe's in town and

she's angry, dedicated and very clever. When her mum is wrongfully imprisoned for violent political activity, Liberty is forced to move from WQashington DC to Ebbottsville Kentucky. to live with her granny.  However when she arrives she finds that the top of Tanner's Peak has been blasted away for coal production, the drinking water is neon orange and her granny, as well as many other Ebbottsville residents, is seriously ill.  This is a Young Adult legal type thriller that could easily rival a John Grisham novel.  It's got heart, strong characters and a really good storyline.  Highly recommended by The Crime Warp.

Available on Amazon kindle £10.79 or HB £11.94
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dig-Too-Deep-Amy-Allgeyer-ebook/dp/B01BUPOSJW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1459861563&sr=1-1&keywords=dig+too+deep

Tragedy Girl by Christine Hurley Deriso (release date 8th April 2016)
Uprooted from her home and transported to Hollis Island to live with her aunt and uncle after the tragic death of her parents, Anne Welch is not only the 'new girl' in school but also 'Tragedy girl'  So, when 'Tragedy Girl' meets 'Tragedy Boy', Blake Fields, whose girlfriend recently drowned, it's almost inevitable that they hook up.  However, with anonymous notes flying around, warnings from the neurotic Natalie to steer clear of Blake, Blake's best friend behaving strangely and Anne's own friends reluctance to let her spend time alone with him, Anne soon begins to wonder what's not being revealed.  Sensitively written around the issues of grief and bereavement, Tragedy Girl is a cracking read.
Available on Amazon Kindle £7.99, PB £9.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tragedy-Girl-Christine-Hurley-Deriso-ebook/dp/B01A5OGP18/ref=sr_1_8?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1459862259&sr=1-8&keywords=Tragedy+girl